New owners at Riccardi's in Brownwood.

[bilcon]

The Suleiman Family is the new owners of Riccardi's. It should be a big improvement. Good Luck to a wonderful Family. We can't wait to try it.

[oldtimes]

The Suleiman Family is the new owners of Riccardi's. It should be a big improvement. Good Luck to a wonderful Family. We can't wait to try it.

:agree:

[dewilson58]

So far, So good....................diminishing returns?? :popcorn:

[Papa_lecki]

The Suleiman Family is the new owners of Riccardi's. It should be a big improvement. Good Luck to a wonderful Family. We can't wait to try it.

What other restaurants do they own? I wasn’t impressed with Riccardi’s - we drive to Red Sauce for Italian

[davem4616]

What other restaurants do they own? I wasn’t impressed with Riccardi’s - we drive to Red Sauce for Italian

Francesco's on 441/27 in Summerfield has decent Italian....you might want to try that

[bagboy]

What other restaurants do they own? I wasn’t impressed with Riccardi’s - we drive to Red Sauce for Italian

Suleiman family owns Red Sauce. One would think Riccardi's will be similar.... or maybe not.

[laboutj]

I really like Piesano's in Lake Deaton Plaza, the food is very good. Red Sauce is just ok for me. Haven't tried Augustine's yet but will when we get back.

[JSR22]

David Suleiman who owns Havana andLopez is taking ver Ricciardis. Additionally, David has a very good Italian restaurant in Ocala.His brother Jack owns Red Sauce and Glenview.

[dewilson58]

I really like Piesano's in Lake Deaton Plaza, the food is very good. Red Sauce is just ok for me.
agree

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Very glad to hear this. We went to Ricciardi's within the first month or two of them opening and were very badly disappointed. We realized it might take more time since they were still new. But it was an unreasonable wait from the time we were seated til we got our water glasses and menus. One of the hot dishes was served cold. Not just "not hot" but actually cold, as if they'd cooked it and stuck it in the fridge for a little while. The sauce was watery and tasted like it came from a jar. The grated cheese was generic or Belgoiso/Stella which - at home or at a local pizza joint is fine, but not for what's supposed to be a mid-tier family restaurant.

My fish dinner smelled off, so I ended up not eating it. My mom didn't get her side dish and by the time they finally brought it out after she'd told them it was missing, we were all already finished with our meal. We had asked twice for lemon for our water (once when we sat down and once after they'd brought the water to us without lemon). We never got it. The wait staff apologized but it was obviously not very sincere, since they never corrected the errors. We left without even bothering to take home what we didn't eat, and never went back.

Now that I know it has a new ownership, I'm definitely willing to give it another try. The menu itself was great, had plenty to choose from, lots of different types of italian foods. I'm betting the Sulieman family will do a much better job of presentation, value, customer service, and quality of the finished product.

[krystekk203@gmail.com]

They are awesome. So excited they will be in Brownwood. Best news we’ve had in awhile .

[golfing eagles]

The Suleiman Family is the new owners of Riccardi's. It should be a big improvement. Good Luck to a wonderful Family. We can't wait to try it.

Does anyone know exactly WHEN they took over????

[champion6]

What other restaurants do they own? I wasn’t impressed with Riccardi’s - we drive to Red Sauce for ItalianFirst, it's spelled Ricciardi's.

Second, the Suleimans also own:
The Legacy Restaurant
The Legacy Bar & Grill
Glenview Champions CC
Redsauce
Havana CC
Milano Ristorante Italiano, Ocala

[valuemkt]

Glenview is definitely the step child of the bunch .. Not sure how they;ve managed to make it as terrible as it is.

[Scott O]

Not a fan of Red Sauce..never had any issues with Ricciardi’s, but also a fan of Piesanos...

[Scott O]

agree
Agree as well..

[Girlcopper]

Francesco's on 441/27 in Summerfield has decent Italian....you might want to try that
And Little Joeys right next door is excellent

[G.R.I.T.S.]

Very glad to hear this. We went to Ricciardi's within the first month or two of them opening and were very badly disappointed. We realized it might take more time since they were still new. But it was an unreasonable wait from the time we were seated til we got our water glasses and menus. One of the hot dishes was served cold. Not just "not hot" but actually cold, as if they'd cooked it and stuck it in the fridge for a little while. The sauce was watery and tasted like it came from a jar. The grated cheese was generic or Belgoiso/Stella which - at home or at a local pizza joint is fine, but not for what's supposed to be a mid-tier family restaurant.

My fish dinner smelled off, so I ended up not eating it. My mom didn't get her side dish and by the time they finally brought it out after she'd told them it was missing, we were all already finished with our meal. We had asked twice for lemon for our water (once when we sat down and once after they'd brought the water to us without lemon). We never got it. The wait staff apologized but it was obviously not very sincere, since they never corrected the errors. We left without even bothering to take home what we didn't eat, and never went back.

Now that I know it has a new ownership, I'm definitely willing to give it another try. The menu itself was great, had plenty to choose from, lots of different types of italian foods. I'm betting the Sulieman family will do a much better job of presentation, value, customer service, and quality of the finished product.

Wow. Guess we've just been lucky all the times we've been to Ricciardi's. Always had a pleasant experience. Hope the new owners keep up with their overall success they have had in TV. They run excellent restaurants.

[eddie888]

You need to read up on this family.

[msilagy]

The food at this restaurant was less than acceptable. I'm glad that this may be an improvement if they actually taste the food! I must say the previous manager did all he could to make customers happy if it was brought to his attention. I got a sizable gift card from him after 4 of us had dinners that were less than acceptable. Since then I used this gift card on salads. That was ok.

[Gunny2403]

My wife and I ate there 3 days ago. Great experience. Filet was perfect. Service spot on.

[Bridget Staunton]

We really like Mom & Pops in Lady Lake. Great lasagne most of the pasta homemade

[danglanzsr]

We went to Glenview for dinner Sunday, January 31. My wife ordered the chateaubriand since we had the same at Lopez and were pleased. When it arrived it was bare, no sauce! We asked the waiter to bring the proper bernaise sauce. She came back empty-handed and said "Tonight is Southern Comfort night, so the chef does not make bernaise sauce." Figure that out!

[golfing eagles]

We really like Mom & Pops in Lady Lake. Great lasagne most of the pasta homemade

Any relation to Mom and Dad's in Lady Lake???:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[mgkw1]

The Suleiman Family is the new owners of Riccardi's. It should be a big improvement. Good Luck to a wonderful Family. We can't wait to try it.

Went the other day for lunch, met the manager and found out the dinner menu is going to have high end steaks on it. About time we got a decent steak

[Joe C.]

As long as they keep their eggplant panini on the menu, I don’t care who owns the restaurant. Ricciardi’s was always a favorite of mine.

[Sunflower33]

They own red sauce lopez Havana Glenview Great family. Hard workers. They really do a good job

[Skip]

First, it's spelled Ricciardi's.

Second, the Suleimans also own:
The Legacy Restaurant
The Legacy Bar & Grill
Glenview Champions CC
Redsauce
Havana CC
Milano Ristorante Italiano, Ocala

The Villages Gourmet Club announced the sale of Ricciardi's last week. They are on top of things here.

Skip

[PugMom]

i'll be glad to see the change. we've eaten there many times, & the food was on a constant decline. 2months ago was the last time we went-i ordered spag & meatballs, & they brought out what appeared to be a spaghetti/cheese soup. i just asked them to take it back & ordered a salad, vowing to never return,...but now that it's under new management, i WILL consider going back for a proper spag & meatballs.:coolsmiley:

[village dreamer]

The Villages Gourmet Club announced the sale of Ricciardi's last week. They are on top of things here.

Skip
dont they own cane gardens also??

[JSR22]

dont they own cane gardens also??

no they do not own Cane Garden.

[dewilson58]

First, it's spelled Ricciardi's.

Second, the Suleimans also own:
The Legacy Restaurant
The Legacy Bar & Grill
Glenview Champions CC
Redsauce
Havana CC
Milano Ristorante Italiano, Ocala


Do they own??............The Villages own the Country Clubs & related golf.

[jbrown132]

If you have ever been up north through New York, Conn, RI and Mass and have had great Italian food then you know that Red Sauce, Ricciardi’s and Piesanos are fair at best. Somehow they just do not seem to be able to get to that next level.

[omimom]

Milano's in Ocala is the best Italian we have had since being here. It's really close to the northeast's Italian.

[JSR22]

Milano's in Ocala is the best Italian we have had since being here. It's really close to the northeast's Italian.

Try Mesa de Notte in Ocala it is excellent.

[nevjudbaker]

David Suleiman who owns Havana andLopez is taking ver Ricciardis. Additionally, David has a very good Italian restaurant in Ocala.His brother Jack owns Red Sauce and Glenview.
I ordered small double pepperoni pizza. Paid $1 more for extra pepperoni. They had put maybe 6 pepperoni on the pizza. What is a single pepperoni? Must have 3. Ridiculous. Flippers has a sm personal tripple pepperoni & it is overflowing with pepperoni. We will be going to Flippers instead.

[Cranford61]

You need to read up on this family.
Why? We’re talking food, not rap sheets.

[JSR22]

I ordered small double pepperoni pizza. Paid $1 more for extra pepperoni. They had put maybe 6 pepperoni on the pizza. What is a single pepperoni? Must have 3. Ridiculous. Flippers has a sm personal tripple pepperoni & it is overflowing with pepperoni. We will be going to Flippers instead.

Which restaurant?

[laryb]

Try Mesa de Notte in Ocala it is excellent.
I absolutely agree. Not your average Italian, with a more diverse menu. You can get the standard fare, but they also have some of your "not your average dishes". It is worth the ride

[JSR22]

I absolutely agree. Not your average Italian, with a more diverse menu. You can get the standard fare, but they also have some of your "not your average dishes". It is worth the ride

IMO one of the top restaurants in the area. Mesa De Notte Ocala

[bilcon]

What other restaurants do they own? I wasn’t impressed with Riccardi’s - we drive to Red Sauce for Italian

They just took it over, and it is not the same old Ricciardi's. Try it again. The family also owns Havana, Lopez Legacy, Glenview, and Red Source.

[New Englander]

I really like Piesano's in Lake Deaton Plaza, the food is very good. Red Sauce is just ok for me. Haven't tried Augustine's yet but will when we get back.

In MHO they have the best pizza in the area. :spoken:

[dewilson58]

In MHO they have the best pizza in the area. :spoken:
But you're not (or me) from NYC, so you (and I) can't vote on what is good pizza.


:MOJE_whot:

[BaileyMom]

Does anyone know exactly WHEN they took over????
January 20 was the closing date. They still haven't renamed the restaurant yet as the original name is registered with too many others. Looking to name it either The Prima or Bistecca of Brownwood. The new menu is almost entirely different. I've had several of their new seafood entrees and was very impressed. Reasonable prices for the quality of food too. Definitely a great addition to Brownwood.

[Pairadocs]

Why? We’re talking food, not rap sheets.

That's what I was thinking.... "read up" ? Where would one "read up" on a family ? Are they local people...figured just another group and probably not local but perhaps from somewhere in Florida. Strange comment have no idea if it was meant as a negative maybe ? How many restaurants one family has bought up little by little ? Puzzling but .....

[Pairadocs]

We really like Mom & Pops in Lady Lake. Great lasagne most of the pasta homemade

The good ones must last a long time..... that restaurant was there so many years before we ever retired and moved here, it was here when we'd come when our kids were young, it was a place to stop and eat on the way to see family further south, amazing it has lasted so long with the competition form all the chains. Don't even remember how we first found it, think because we were taking OBT south and seems like a local gas station employee told us "there's a real good place to eat just a mile or two on down".... well, we stopped every year after that ! Now we live here right by it.

[oldtimes]

But you're not (or me) from NYC, so you (and I) can't vote on what is good pizza.


:MOJE_whot:

You don’t have to be from NYC to have been there many times.

[dewilson58]

You don’t have to be from NYC to have been there many times.
Sarcasm Sheldon, Sarcasm.

[asianthree]

Sarcasm Sheldon, Sarcasm.

Admin Really need the SIGN

[PennBF]

We are New Yorker's and believe we have not had a local Pizza that is like what you find in New York. The closes we have come is Piesano's for Italian food. In addition we have spent extended time traveling in Italy including renting a Tuscany Villa and stays in Rome, Naples etc.and the Italian Pizza is kind of unique as it has a little different taste than New York but both are remarkably good. Of course every country and location has it's own method of cooking and so because one does not taste the same as the other does not make it better or worse. :popcorn:

[B-flat]

If you have ever been up north through New York, Conn, RI and Mass and have had great Italian food then you know that Red Sauce, Ricciardi’s and Piesanos are fair at best. Somehow they just do not seem to be able to get to that next level.

Jbrown, Ditto to your comments!

Glad to hear Ricciardi's is under new ownership. My wife and I went there 2 years ago, it was unimpressive especially when her Pasta Bolognese sauce tasted more like the meat sauce they put on NY System Hot Weiners in Rhode Island. I really like the meat sauce on NY System Weiners just not on my pasta.

[New Englander]

But you're not (or me) from NYC, so you (and I) can't vote on what is good pizza.


:MOJE_whot:

FYI, the pizza in Boston & Providence RI is as good as any in NY! :mmmm:

[dewilson58]

FYI, the pizza in Boston & Providence RI is as good as any in NY! :mmmm:
:bigbow:

[Number 10 GI]

If you have ever been up north through New York, Conn, RI and Mass and have had great Italian food then you know that Red Sauce, Ricciardi’s and Piesanos are fair at best. Somehow they just do not seem to be able to get to that next level.

I have my fire retardant suit on. The wife and I don't care for Piesanos at all, we prefer Sammy's on 301. I'll take a Pizza Hut pizza over Piesanos. When we were living in Tennessee, just across the state line in Kentucky was an Italian restaurant operated by an Italian immigrant who was trained as chef in Italy. His marinara sauce is the best I've ever had. You had to make reservations to get into his restaurant because it was so popular.

[dewilson58]

I have my fire retardant suit on. The wife and I don't care for Piesanos at all, we prefer Sammy's on 301. I'll take a Pizza Hut pizza over Piesanos. When we were living in Tennessee, just across the state line in Kentucky was an Italian restaurant operated by an Italian immigrant who was trained as chef in Italy. His marinara sauce is the best I've ever had. You had to make reservations to get into his restaurant because it was so popular.
We have had good at Sammy's too.
There is great Italian food and pizza all over this country, NYers jus think they know. A lot of NY pizza does not have flavor. :clap2:

[laboutj]

If you have ever been up north through New York, Conn, RI and Mass and have had great Italian food then you know that Red Sauce, Ricciardi’s and Piesanos are fair at best. Somehow they just do not seem to be able to get to that next level.

Live near Providence which has some unfreakingbelievable italian restaurants and to me, Piesano's is the best inside the Villages. Will try Augustine's when I get back.

[PugMom]

That's what I was thinking.... "read up" ? Where would one "read up" on a family ? Are they local people...figured just another group and probably not local but perhaps from somewhere in Florida. Strange comment have no idea if it was meant as a negative maybe ? How many restaurants one family has bought up little by little ? Puzzling but .....

they probably want you to read up on how the local tabloid is wringing the family's dirty laundry in the news. the relentless attacks by the media, acting to destroying lives is wearing thin

[PugMom]

we just got back from dinner & i was so impressed!! the food was delicious, service impeccable. a new, more precise menu & hearty portions, too. a VERY good all around experience & will go back next week to try the steaks :coolsmiley:

[B-flat]

Live near Providence which has some unfreakingbelievable italian restaurants and to me, Piesano's is the best inside the Villages. Will try Augustine's when I get back.

I have a home in the Providence area. You are absolutely right about the "unfreakingbelievable" Italian restaurants, then there's Twin Oaks and Wright's Farm. Haven't found anything like them here.

[Ben Franklin]

Love Piesanos, but I think I found a better Italian restaurant outside of TV land, just to our west. I have to try it first, however, before I let you know for sure. ;-)

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

And we will all hold our breath in anticipation of your discovery hmmmmm

[Northwoods]

We have had good at Sammy's too.
There is great Italian food and pizza all over this country, NYers jus think they know. A lot of NY pizza does not have flavor. :clap2:

Did you put your flame-retardant suit on before you posted this!!! :1rotfl:
(I agree with you)

[Garywt]

A lot of eating off the reservation. We have not yet left the bubble to eat. Still have more to try. I find in general, food in Florida is lacking compared to other parts of the country. The fact that there are no steak tips to be found anywhere is sad. We will keep trying as we have plenty of time to do that, just waiting to be able to go out to eat again.

[graciegirl]

We have had good at Sammy's too.
There is great Italian food and pizza all over this country, NYers jus think they know. A lot of NY pizza does not have flavor. :clap2:

EVERY Villager remembers their very favorite........ Mine is LaRosa's from Cincinnati. You are right once again my friend.

[bilcon]

Suleiman family owns Red Sauce. One would think Riccardi's will be similar.... or maybe not.

Different part of the family. Not the same. Red Sauce and Glenview CC owned by one side and Nancy Lopez, Havana and now Riccardi's (Prima Italian Steak House ) owned by other Suleiman, as well at Malano's Italian Restaurant in Ocala.

[Schaumburger]

3 nights ago I dined at Pirima. I had the limoncello grouper with gnocchi. It was delicious, and the service was great. I would definitely eat at Prima again.

[Dana1963]

I have a home in the Providence area. You are absolutely right about the "unfreakingbelievable" Italian restaurants, then there's Twin Oaks and Wright's Farm. Haven't found anything like them here.
Just ate at Wrights Farm last Thursday. Next time in the area again try Nordic Lodge, Charlestown a little pricy BUT all the Lobster, Kingcrab, Filet, Prime Rib, clams oysters half shell, peel and eat shrimp, and more. SORRY NO DOGGY BAGS. Or Brazilian Restaurant Pampas Churrascaria, Wooster Ma. Or any Greggs in the Providence area. I have found Villagers will eat anything. Remember Lum’s.

[Ben Franklin]

When I was younger all of my friends were Italian. They called me Elliot Ness. Many of my friends had their grandmother or grandfather from Italy living with them. The best Italian food wasn't from a restaurant, but from the dinners their mother's cooked. I always managed to be at one of my friend's house around dinner time. I remember they always ate, at least, 4 courses. One night I was so stuffed after the 3rd course, that I passed on the 4th course only to have my friend's father yell at me for disrespecting his wife's cooking.

Ahh, to have those home cooked Italian meals again.

[REDCART]

First time at Prima’s Ital Steak House tonight. Overall, very pleasant dining experience. The food and service were both excellent. However, the consensus was Lopez and the Chop House are just a little bit better on both counts.